SELECTOR 1. TAKASHI SUZUKI "Two bottles chosen by the man who loves sake the most in UA.
PROFILE
Director of UNITED ARROWS BOTTLE SHOP, he joined UNITED ARROWS in 2007 and was involved in store operation management such as numerical management and store simulation in the Business Strategy Department, as well as MD and launch of the label. In 2007, he joined "UNITED ARROWS", where he was involved in numerical management, store opening simulations, and other store operation management tasks in the Business Strategy Department, as well as MD and start-up of labels. He was in charge of direction and buying.
Instagram: @ua_bottle_shop @takashi_ipa
NO.1 "UA Launching Fireworks" of "Senkou United Arrows Collection
¥2,970 (720ml / UA BAR)
United Arrows" participated in the brewing of "SENKYO" and released a bottle in August this year. The sparkling sake was inspired by the image of a large flower in the night sky in summer. The sparkling sake is said to have a refreshing taste with a burst of carbonation when served in a chilled glass.
SENKYO is one of the breweries that first attracted me to sake. The current brewery owner, who used to be a sommelier, is a pioneer in the evolution of sake to a modern taste that suits today's eating habits, while reviving the Edo Period's sake brewing methods such as wooden vats and sake yeast. The first time I tasted sake, I was amazed at how sake was made. I was surprised to find that the taste of sake has been revived and has evolved into a modern taste that suits today's eating habits. Since last year, we have released several collaborative products as part of the "SENGOKU UNITED ARROWS COLLECTION," and "UA Uchiage Hanabi" is so refreshing that some people may mistake it for a brut champagne if they drink it without knowing. Sake is gaining attention around the world, and we hope you will try this frontline flavor.
NO.2 "Omine 3 grains Hi-ire Yamadanishiki" from Omine Shuzo
¥2,310 (720ml / UA BAR)
Made with great care at a sake brewery in Yamaguchi, this bottle is the signature product of the Omine Sake Brewery, a masterpiece that won the Silver Award at the IWC, a global sake competition, in 2021.
About eight years ago, when I was working for "United Arrows & Sons," we participated in an event in Shanghai. I met Mr. Akiyama, the president of Omine Sake Brewery, when he visited the team of NIGO®, which had a booth next to ours. I thought he told me that he made sake, and when I tried it after returning to Japan, I was amazed at how delicious it was! It has a juicy sweetness like muscat combined with well-balanced umami and acidity, and despite its low alcohol content, it has a full-bodied taste. Daimine Sake Brewery is a sake brewery that has been attracting a lot of attention for its fusion of sake and culture, such as its "SAKE STORM COWBOY" sake brand with NIGO® and Pharrell Williams, and labels created in collaboration with artists Kosuke Kawamura and Misaki Tanaka.
Suzuki's Theory of Home Drinking
Q1: What kind of drinking do you usually do at home? What are the advantages of "drinking at home" compared to "drinking out"?
I don't know if this will be very helpful, but I sip sake first thing in the morning on a day off when I have nothing else to do. Sake is a drink made by a sophisticated technique called parallel double fermentation, which is rare in the world, and is a beautiful expression of extremely delicate and rich flavor elements. I want to enjoy it to the fullest, so I taste it when my body is depleted and my senses are sharp. I shudder at the sensation of the dazzling deliciousness that fills my mouth with juices (laughs). I think the charm of drinking at home is that you can enjoy your favorite sake as much and as often as you like without worrying about the time.
Q2: What dishes do you usually prepare when you "drink at home"?
I am the type of person who likes to take my time with my sake, so I don't eat much snacks. Instead, I prepare my favorite sake cups. I use works by ceramic artists Makiko Suzuki and Shiro Hamanaka with great care. When drinking sake, I drink it cold as well as heated to enjoy the change in flavor. When heating sake, I have been using a tin chirori purchased from "Kyoto Seijyodo" for many years. I recommend this marriage with your favorite sake cup for an even more luxurious experience.
Q3. What is your most memorable "home-drinking" experience?
I remember one of the most memorable times when I was unable to go out due to the Corona disaster, and I had a remote drinking session with friends who liked to drink. We all prepared our favorite drinks for the day and showed each other ours, which we later bought and got into.
T-SHIRT
What is it about T-shirts in pubs and bars that makes me want one? Is it because of drunkenness? No, no, it is the work of intoxicating design. We have taken the elite beyond the realm of mere staff T-shirts and ordered them from all over the country.
NO.1 Public bar KAGAYA
T-shirt ¥4,200 (Popular Bar Kaga House)
A "popular bar" in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture The mood of "Kagaya" is so relaxed that one might almost hear a voice saying, "Wait! The design was created by GORO of "MIN-NANO. The store is a small one with a floor space of only 3.5 square meters, but it has a tremendous influence. It is a place that will make your eyes and taste buds roar, and you will want to "wait and see" what they are up to.
NO.2 Hobo Beer Store
T-shirt ¥8,250 (Hobo Beer Store)
Hobo Brewing is a craft brewery that does not have a specific brewery. The two owners of Hobo Beer Store travel around Japan, mainly to Fukuoka and Hokkaido, serving freshly brewed and purchased beer. This is expressed in the "WE LOVE TO SERVE FRESH" on the back. It is the strongest tag team ever to have this designed by "Fresh Service". The warmth of the creators can be felt.
NO.3 THE MUSEN IN SHOCK
T-shirt ¥4,000 (THE MUSEN IN SHOCK)
THE MUSEN IN SHOCK, a standing bar that raises the heart rate of Kansai people. The MUSEN IN SHOCK" is a standing bar that raises the heart rate of Kansai people. The number of giddy blushes lined up on Instagram shows just how much the city's residents love the place. With its Tiffany blue coloring and subtle logo, THE MUSEN IN SHOCK is perfect for everyday use.
NO.4 Yose
T-shirt ¥6,380, wine glass ¥2,400 (donation)
An Edo beauty enjoying soba noodles with a glass of wine in one hand. AirPods in her ears and a smartphone glimpsed inside her kimono? This T-shirt, a collection of various eras and cultures, is available at Kaku-uchi "Yose". You can enjoy natur wines and original craft beers, as well as soba noodles supervised by the famous Kyoto soba restaurant "Suba" to finish off your meal. The marriage of food and culture is also beautifully expressed on the T-shirts.
NO.5 SOMEWHERE
T-shirt ¥4,800*¥5,500 including shipping (SOMEWHERE) for mail order
SOMEWHERE is a place where people who have eaten and drank their fill in Kyoto gather for drinks and simple snacks. Like the seasonally changing menu, the irregularly released T-shirts are as interesting as a new rock band record. The new T-shirts feature flashy fluorescent prints that pay homage to the U.S. alternative music scene. The owner is a former graphic designer, and the T-shirts are just too cool!
NO.6 Human Nature
Sweatshirt ¥14,200 (Human Nature)
This sweatshirt is printed with unpredictable wine stains and the names of grape varieties favored by "Human Nature". Without being content with design, "Somewhere in Tokyo" has taken considerable care in incorporating this into its supple body. Tokyo's supple body, the sweatshirt shows a great deal of care and attention to detail. With this sweatshirt, even if wine is spilled, it can be tolerated as part of the design.
NO.7 Mixture
T-shirt ¥6,600 (mixed)
Tumbler ¥2,500 (mixed)
Konkon is a secret base in Ikejiri-Ohashi where wine, snacks, and culture intersect. As the name suggests, the store's graphic T's are a mixture of cute and stylish; a restaurant where everything is delicious, no matter what you eat or drink, is designed to intoxicate even the merchandise.
